FDA seizes 'wonder' drugs worth Rs 1 crore across Maharashtra

Officials of the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) seized various products worth Rs 1.52 crore from different parts of the state during a special drive against misleading advertisements last month.Umesh Isalkar | Updated: October 08, 2016, 08:56 IST

(Representative image)Pune: Officials of the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) seized various products worth Rs 1.52 crore from different parts of the state during a special drive against misleading advertisements last month.

A total of 94 raids were conducted during the month-long drive. As many as 263 products claiming to cure diabetes, obesity, impotency, short height, mental disorders, cancer and rheumatism were seized by the FDA officials in Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Nagpur, Nashik, Kolhapur, Aurangabad and Konkan region.

"The special drive was taken up after several complaints were received about the objectionable advertisements. It was carried out simultaneously in all the seven administrative divisions in September. A total of 263 products, collectively worth Rs 1.52 crore, were seized in 94 raids," state FDA commissioner Harshadeep Kamble told TOI.

Some of the products seized during these raids included sugar lock syrup for diabetic patients and herbal solutions claiming to cure obesity, enhance virility and increase physical height among others.

As per the provisions of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisement) Act, 1954, no person can take part in the publication of any advertisement referring to any drug which suggests or leads to the use of that drug for diagnosis, treatment, mitigation or cure or any disease mentioned in the schedule to the Act.

There are 54 such diseases/disorders conditions mentioned in the said schedule. Such advertisements are published in newspapers, television, magazines, labels and other media.

"Aggressive and rampant advertisements making tall and false claims to cure various diseases lead to self-medication in the general public which may cause adverse effects. We appeal to the public not to use such products without consulting a physician, even though they fall under the herbal or Ayurvedic products category," Kamble said.

S B Patil, assistant commissioner (drugs), FDA, Pune, said, "We seized these products mainly from distributors after tracing their addresses and whereabouts from the advertisements. These are mainly herbal and Ayurvedic products which were being promoted under false claims. This is our round-the-year activity. But this seizure is a part of the concerted special drive conducted in September."

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